Key Points
- Human rights violations in India have surged under PM Modi, especially against minorities
- Religious extremism, attacks on women, and restrictions on press freedom are on the rise
- UN reports serious abuses in Indian-occupied Kashmir, including killings, disappearances, and torture
- OIC-IPHR reports over 94,000 Kashmiris killed since 1989, with over 10,000 women subjected to sexual violence
- Thousands of Muslim homes demolished in Gujarat; Christians and other minorities also face increasing intolerance
- Ethnic violence in northeastern India has displaced hundreds of thousands, with poor conditions in relief camps
- Freedom of expression threatened through misuse of anti-terror laws
- Global community urged to take urgent notice of India’s human rights violations
NEW DELHI: While the world observes December 10 as International Human Rights Day, the situation in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government remains deeply troubling. Human rights violations, particularly against religious and ethnic minorities, continue unabated.
Reports indicate that India is among the worst offenders globally for human rights abuses. Religious extremism, attacks on women and minorities, and restrictions on press freedom are increasingly prominent.
According to the United Nations, the situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir is one of the world’s most severe human rights crises. Kashmiris face killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and strict restrictions on freedoms, the UN has repeatedly reported.
The Independent Human Rights Commission of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC-IPHR) notes that over 94,000 Kashmiris have been killed by Indian security forces, including more than 7,000 in detention. Since 1989, over 10,000 women have been subjected to sexual violence and harassment by the Indian military and paramilitary forces in the region.
TRT World reports that following the revocation of Articles 370 and 35A, residents of the occupied valley are suffering severe psychological distress. BBC reports that Muslims in India live in fear about their future under Modi’s administration.
Under Modi’s policies, thousands of Muslim homes in Gujarat have been demolished, and other minorities, including Christians, face rising religious intolerance, according to The Diplomat.
In northeastern India, ethnic violence and separatist movements, particularly in Manipur, have displaced hundreds of thousands, with many living in poor conditions in relief camps, according to AP News.
Freedom of expression has also been curtailed. The Human Rights Commissioner notes that misuse of anti-terror laws threatens press freedom and public discourse. Reports by The Friday Times indicate that Modi’s administration is increasingly responsible for serious human rights abuses and suppression of fundamental freedoms.
Observers warn that India’s human rights record has worsened significantly under Modi, calling on the international community to urgently address these violations to ensure regional safety and uphold basic rights.
